Above Ground Pool Questions

Asked Apr 14, 2006, 06:19 AM
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24 Answers

I am about to purchase an 18' Above Ground Pool. Part of the deal was that I go to the sellers house to dissassemble and remove the pool (it will be drained). Is this something that can easily be done by two-three people with average skills. This means I have done some home improvement stuff like installing sinks and helping to finish a basement, but I've never dissassembled a pool before! Any idea how long this might take us??

Second, I may need to store the pool for a few months while I get my yard ready for installation. Do I need to fully dry the liner for storage, or keep it damp with wet towels or other techniques? I am seeing conflicting info on this from various sites.

Lastly, if there is anything else that I should know before starting this task?

Hi, Nickels,
As one experienced with above ground swimming pools, maybe I can help. I have a 15 x 30 above ground in my back yard, bought new and used it for about 17 yrs... no longer use it.
I still have all the manuals, booklets, and installation instructions, and will run an ad soon to try getting someone to take it for free, if they tear it down and move it themselves.
First, two people can do it, but don't know exactly how long it will take. IF the screws, nuts and bolts are not rusted, shouldn't take but maybe a full day.
Next, IF the pool liner, (the liner that holds the water), is over 10 yrs old, you may have to buy a new liner. Mine was guaranteed for 10 yrs, and does have a few holes in the bottom, that I repaired with underwater glue and pieces of plastic liner.
It doesn't matter if you store the liner dry or wet. When a new one is shipped, it will be dry, and might have been stored in a warehouse for quite some time, before shipping.
Then, when you start to put it up, borrow an engineers tripod, and a "level", which you can use to level your ground. Should not be more than 1/4" difference in level all across the pool bottom... with ABSOLUTELY no rocks underneath the pool.
Best of luck, and ask the person who owns it if they still have the manuals and booklets.
My wife and I installed the pool ourselves, many years ago. Took more time to grade the ground, fill in with sand, rake out all the rock, than it did to actually put up the pool with the deck.

Thanks for the quick reply. The person told me that the liner was just replaced last year, so it is new. The pool itself looks to be in fine shape from the pictures, with the age of it being no more then 5-6 years old.

I'll worry about the re-assembly once I get it removed. Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a long day. Haha

It took about 3 hard-workin hours to remove the pool. Guess what, the seller was a bit off on the specs. It was really a 24' round pool, not 18 feet. Sweet mistake! The only pool pieces that didn't make it were the bottom curved rail sections that appear to help keep the shape of the sidewall. Hopefully I can find them somewhere, which I am pretty sure shouldn't be a huge problem. If anyone knows where to find them please let me know.

It is going to be a major feat getting this pool installed in time to use it this year.

HI,
I want to be invited, too!
You might have to buy new "wall" for it; don't know where you could find it. Might try searching Google online, if you don't mind ordering something online.
That's where I got my last pool cover... very good buy!
Also, if it has a sand filter, might have to buy some new, clean sand.
Best of luck.

The "wall" is fine, it is coiled up (and upright) in my garage right now. The bottom track is 90% trashed. I need to find the curved 3 foot sections that go together to make up the bottom rail which holds the wall in place. I tried Google with no luck... next stop - pool stores.

The owner had no manuals, so I have to find all the info online. I assume the filter manual shouldn't be too hard to locate. The sand filter weighs about 100 awkward pounds. It was really fun moving it!

Believe me, if I get this installed I will party it up. Right now that seems like a lifetime of work away...

HI,
OK, I now understand about the bottom rail track, holding the wall in place.
I am sorry, but really don't know where to find this. Hopefully, as you suggested, a Pool supply place might have some, along with searching online.

HI,
No, don't know what MB is.
But, here is a site:http://www.bestbuypoolsupply.com/abo...-shopping.html
I ordered a pool cover from the above link last year, for around $50. It is a good one, and is good quality. Received it in only about 3 days from the site.
They also have a toll free number, and might be able to help with the rails.

Quick question about installing an above ground pool. Can it be partially buried? My backyard is sloped and I can't afford a retaining wall. My new plan is to level a moon shaped area of my yard (slightly larger then the pool shape), build the pool, and then fill the space back in with dirt. The back of the pool would be about 3 feet in the dirt and the front would hardly be buried at all.

Can the above ground pool act as a retaining wall, or does it depend on the model? The pool is unknown model, 24' round with a rather think 52" high steel wall.

(I thought I posted this a few days ago but the thread has disappeared. Please let me know if there is a reason for that or if I just forgot to hit submit.)

HI,
I would be very "leary" about it acting as a "retaining wall". They are constructed to withstand presurre from inside out. The 10,000 gals of water, or so, will put much pressure on the pool sides, but it will be pushing "out", against the frame of the pool.
I don't know know that the pressure can be from the outside "in". I do know that when mine was full, 10,000 gals, 15ft x 30ft x 4 ft deep, I would not have wanted a lot of pressure pushing "in" on it. It's not designed for that.
I, too, have seen some above ground pools with higher "ground" around one side than the other, but the ground had a built-in retaining wall around it.

The pool is 24' round so the retaining wall would cost me a few thousand dollars that I can't afford. I figured the pressure from the water would counter the pressure from the dirt. The pool has way more pressure going "out" from the water then "in" from the dirt on the side, so the pool would hold the dirt in place. I don't see how the dirt could bend or damage the pool wall which seems super sturdy, but that is why I am asking the question!

Hi, nickels,
You could be right. I live in the Appalachain Mountains, and probably are thinking about half a mountain having to be held back! Including rocks.
If it's only dirt, then I would go for it.
I am having to take down my own above ground pool myself. It's 26 yrs old, and no one wants it. Thought I could give it away, but no takers!
Bought a bolt cutter for my electric drill, works great. You wouldn't believe all the rusted nuts and bolts. I'm glad you got a fairly new pool!
Mine is going to the dump; piece by piece.

I am having no luck identifying my pool manufacturer. Can anyone help based on this logo:

I thought it was a Muskin but their 24' round pools are in 17 segments and the bottom rim is 1" thick square and 51" long. My 24' round pool is in 16 segments, and the bottom rail is 5/8" thick square and 56" long.

Hi,
I just saw your post. I just recent got me a freebie, yippee!! Mine is a whopper too, 21 x 41 x 52!
Anyway, not sure if you have been able to find a bottom rail or installed your pool yet, but I wanted to let you know, you do not have to use the bottom rail. When I was young, my mom bought me a pool but the bottom rail was not usable like yours. Well, my brothers just dug a ditch where the pool wall sat further in the ground, they packed sand in around that area, like you use pool cove now and my pool stood for years!
And the question about the wall being partially in ground, yes, you can do that without a retaining wall, my brother bought a 4 ft pool that was I think 18 foot round and half of it was at least 2 to 3 feet inground, his back yard was a slope. His was still standing 5 years later, he moved, so I don't know about now.. lol
Well I hope you are enjoying your pool, I can't wait to get ours up and going.:D
Samantha

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